CVE-2025-20929
Published: 06 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-20929 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Samsung Notes. Its CVSS base score is 7.3 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked at the 25.8th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly mitigates the out-of-bounds write vulnerability by requiring timely identification, reporting, and patching of the flaw in Samsung Notes to version 4.4.26.71 or later.
Implements memory protections such as ASLR and DEP to prevent arbitrary code execution resulting from the out-of-bounds write during JPEG parsing.
Requires validation of JPEG image inputs to Samsung Notes to detect and reject malformed files that could trigger the out-of-bounds write.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Out-of-bounds write in JPEG parsing component of client application (Samsung Notes) directly enables arbitrary code execution via crafted image with no user interaction required, mapping to Exploitation for Client Execution.
NVD Description
Out-of-bounds write in parsing jpeg image in Samsung Notes prior to version 4.4.26.71 allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-20929 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) in the JPEG image parsing component of the Samsung Notes application, affecting versions prior to 4.4.26.71. Published on 2025-03-06, the issue has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L), indicating high integrity impact potential with low requirements for exploitation.
Local attackers with access to the device can exploit this vulnerability by providing a specially crafted JPEG image to Samsung Notes, leading to arbitrary code execution. No user privileges or interaction are required, and the attack complexity is low, making it feasible for unprivileged local users.
Samsung's security advisory for March 2025 (https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2025&month=03) addresses the vulnerability, with the fix available in Samsung Notes version 4.4.26.71. Security practitioners should ensure devices are updated to this version or later to mitigate the risk.
Details
- CWE(s)